Fern Lake Trail

Fern Lake Trail is a 3.2 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near June Lake, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips and is best used from June until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail.

Erin L.

Awesome hike, very difficult even coming down can be scary. Went up with a large group and kids between the ages of 10-16. Took us about 1 hour 30 mins to go up and this was with multiple stops. About 1 hour to get down.

Plan on spending a lot of time if you want to get to Fern Lake and have less than Olympian-cardio. I only had two hours. Enough time to get as far as the waterfall at the Yost/Fern split in the trail and return. The waterfall was spectacular.

The trail was narrow and berm was loosey-goosey. Took a spill. Hiking pole arrested slide. Maybe should have done JL Brew Co AFTER the hike and not before.

Plan on spending a lot of time if you want to get to Fern Lake and have less than Olympian-cardio. I only had two hours. Enough time to get as far as the waterfall at the Yost/Fern split in the trail and return. The waterfall was spectacular.

The trail was narrow and berm was loosey-goosey. Took a spill. Hiking pole arrested slide. Maybe should have done JL Brew Co AFTER the hike and not before.

Strenuous especially after the trail junction. Local maps say it is a 4.4 mile round trip hike. The day we went it was very, very windy. When we got to the lake we literally were almost blown over. But it was a gorgeous little cirque. Someday I’ll probably do it again.

The strenuous hike up to Fern Lake is very rewarding. Fern Lake is extremely beautiful all year round, with beautiful mountains surrounding the lake and several great beach spots to relax and have a snack/meal. The trail is a constant incline until you get to the Yost-Fern fork, after that it is extremely steep. Trekking poles and good boots are highly recommended. Dogs are great for this trail if they are trail trained.

Spectacular and definitely difficult. Single track trail took us (in October) to Fern Lake which had cascading fall colors. There is a waterfall at a junction then the work begins getting to the lake.

Well worth it. I have new stem cell knees which I am happy to say have held up nicely. I brought my walking sticks and boy did I use them. Btw of you need help with your knees google Venkatesh Movva in Texas and Oklahoma.

I did it in the month of July and it was the perfect time to go. It was challenging but the views made the experience great. It is uphill the entire way, and after the waterfall it gets even harder. Near the end I was questioning how much farther the lake was and I almost turned back, but then I came across it. It is a beautiful lake right in the middle of the mountains, and the hike up to it was worth it. I took my dogs with me, and they were both very tired at the end of the hike.

Stairmaster XXXtreme! This is a tough one, but well worth the effort. It's uphill the entire way with no breaks, but there is a great waterfall about half way up, plenty of wildflowers, and Fern lake is stunning (especially if there is no wind). If you have some extra time, walk clockwise around the lake, cross the stream, and find the trail on the south side of the lake. It doesn't go very far, but it will give you a great view of a large waterfall coming from the top of the peaks. Bring your trekking poles to save your knees on the way down.

The Fern Lake trail was a wonderful short hike. The lake is beautiful. Hiking around the lake offered views of magnificent inlet waterfall. Due to the short length, we decided to also do Yost Lake. It was a waste of time. The lake is completely surrounded by vegetation and does not provide any unobstructed views. Spend the extra time soaking in the beauty at Fern Lake instead.

Hiked this trail about a week ago. Its a nice workout. Pretty much straight up the mountain the entire way. The lake and the mountain range at the top are absolutely stunning. Even went for a quick dip in the lake and lasted about 10 seconds in the freezing cold water. The views on the way down are great and you don't really see them on the way up cause your paying attention to the trail. Its shaded a lot which is great too. I will do this hike every time up in Mammoth area for now on.

I hiked in June 6 2017. Snow began about half way up and the trail disappeared about 1 mile in. Followed tracks of others in snow but definitely got off the real trail and never found it. However, encountered people coming down who 1. thought they had found the trail because they encountered me(!) and 2. Assured me the lake was not too far up ahead. the lake was still largely frozen at that time. Spectacular, cold but with mosquitos.